London Colour HID upgrade kit Install guide.

[Gobsheene]

Hey folks, there has been numerous threads on this but I wanted to put together a pictorial Guide on how to install these slim ballast non-canbus kits. 

 

This is on my FL 2010 Octavia.

 

Tools Needed:

• Flat head screwdriver
• Sharp Knife or scissors
• File/Emery Board

Method:

1. Remove the head lights from the car by undoing the white nylon nut, pulling the hook and removing the wiring connector from each using the flathead screwdriver.
   
    
2. Remove the large rubber back and pull out the lamp by turning it anti clockwise.
   
   
   
    
3. Remove the lamp from the holder, then remove the silver retaining clip from the holder too. You'll need this later to reattach the new lamp.
   
    
4. At this point we can look at all the components of the kit.
   HID Ballast (Silver Box) and Igniter (Black Box)
   
   
   Lamp and Wiring Harness
   
    
5. At his point keep all protective covering on the lamp. 
   
    
6. Remove the Rubber Grommet from the Lamp wiring harness, this is not required as it will all fit within the headlight.
   
    
7. Use the file to take a mm or two off the larger connector from the lamp harness to allow it to fit through the retaining clip.
   
   
   
   then slip the second smaller connector through.
   
   It will conntact snugly with the lamp like so:
   
   
    
8. After this remove the protection and carefully insert the lamp into the headlight. This will only lock into place in one direction as the 'teeth' on the retaining clip are at staggered junctions.
   
    
9. Connect the clips to the igniter end of the loom. 
   
    
10. Connect the clips on the 2nd part of the loom to the red ballast 
    
     
11. As the ballasts are not going to be afixed to anything and essentially floating, i made them a little shock absorber from the lamp protectors. 
    
    
     
12. Finally connect the last two spade connectors into the original bulb connector. The polarity of this is reversed, so where black would normally be - in this case its +. 
    
     
13. I wasnt overly happy with there being two slightly bare ends of the spade connectors, so I used some insulating tape to isolate them a little. 
    
     
14. Carefully slip everything into the headlight and pop the cover back on.
    
    
     
15. Reinsert the head light units back into the car and connect them back up

Now, some people are stating that you must code the car to remove any warning lights on the dash. My car does not have maxidot, the only warning that I receive is a bulb light. 

I did have a bulb warning before I fitted these as One of my bulbs blew on Christmas eve, when I installed the HIDs this cleared. and has not came back on since. 

 

Hope that this can help some people out  

 

Niall 

[Tim1631]

I wouldn't put the ballast in the headlight. They get extremely hot!

[Gobsheene]

I wouldn't put the ballast in the headlight. They get extremely hot!

Thanks for the advice Tim, I'll check to see what temps are like tomorrow.

[DanialA11]

The ballast are fine inside the housing alot of members have had them fitted in there for years

2nd even tho the bulb error light is cleared I will highly recommend coding using vcds as a matter of urgency because I done the same thing and never coded the car and 3 months later blew the wiper motor which forum members told me would happen

Edited 28 December, 2014 by DanialA11

[john999boy]

Moved to technical guides.

[nickguzzi]

Quite a few of us have had the ballast inside the headlamp unit for a long time, in my case for over 4 years now.  No problems.  Yet.

 

Thanks for the Howto.

Edited 28 December, 2014 by nickguzzi

[Cyberstaff]

My ballasts are also inside the light unit fixed with Velcro tape.

Car does need coding through VCDS though or you will blow the wiper motor and possibly the main controller!

[Gobsheene]

Coding will hopefully be done today then! Thanks folks

[softscoop]

I will hopefully do a guide for pre fl soon as the assembly is different

[Gobsheene]

I will hopefully do a guide for pre fl soon as the assembly is different

Feel free to use any of my pics if you need it.

[softscoop]

Here is my guide to fitting LondonColour HIDS in a pre-facelift.

 

This is how I did it, and is not necessarily the only way.

 

First step is remove the headlight.

 

Pull on the tab to the side of the headlight until it is protruding.

 

 

 

 

Then undo the plastic nut on the back of the unit.

 

 

The headlight assembly can then be pulled forwards.

I find reaching through and pushing from the back as well can help free it off when it's been in a while.

 

 

Swing it out, and you should then have enough room to undo the connector.

 

 

 

Once you have the headlight out, remove the back cover and remove your H7 standard bulb.

 

At this point, I found it easier to also take off the metal bulb holder clip as it's difficult to get the HID bulb wires through with it in place.

 

Take your HID bulb out of the packet, and remember to remove the rubber protector off the bottom of the bulb as seen here.

 

 

 

 

Then put the bulb in the holder, making sure the tab is fully in the recess.

 

 

 

Then put the bracket over the wires, and clip it back in place.

 

 

 

 

I then got some automotive double sided foam tape to put the mini ballast in the plastic cover.

 

 

 

 

Connect everything up.

This is easy as each connector only goes one way so you can't get it wrong.

 

The only thing to watch is the colour of the H7 connector to the HID connector.

Black on the HID bulb goes to brown in the original connection. 

Red on the HID goes to purple & brown on the H7 connector.

 

 

 

You should then have room down the inside of the headlight to put all of the cables and connectors, and then put the rear cover back on.

 

Once it's back together plug in the connector and slide the headlight back along the rails (it will only go one way). If you've done it right, the tab will push back in with little resistance, and then put the plastic nut back on the rear.

 

The repeat for the other headlight.

 

You then need to code the car correctly using VCDS. 

In my case I had to tick the option for xenon without shutters and until cold lamp diagnostics.

 

Once coded, turn them on to make sure they work and that you get no bulb warning lights.

Leave them on for 10 min to burn in the first time you turn them on, so go and make a cup of tea.

 

 

Turn off, and you're done

[jdukvrs]

We're can I get the codin done or the programe to do it ??

[softscoop]

We're can I get the codin done or the programe to do it ??

 

You need access to VCDS.

 

Find a local member near to you with it at the below thread:

 

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/262215-list-of-vcds-owners-previously-known-as-vag-com/

[DanialA11]

Can someone with a pre - fl that has access to a vcds check something for me PLEASE

When ticking the option bi xenons without shutters on byte 3 bit 4.

Does vcds add 10 the hex value, hex value being the 2 digit number that is the bytes?

[langers2k]

Can someone with a pre - fl that has access to a vcds check something for me PLEASE

When ticking the option bi xenons without shutters on byte 3 bit 4.

Does vcds add 10 the hex value, hex value being the 2 digit number that is the bytes?

Bit 0 - hex 01

Bit 1 - hex 02

Bit 2 - hex 04

Bit 3 - hex 08

Bit 4 - hex 10

Bit 5 - hex 20

Bit 6 - hex 40

Bit 7 - hex 80

 

So yes, bit 4 is the same of adding/removing 10 to the number in the byte field.

[trundlenut]

Bit 0 - hex 01

Bit 1 - hex 02

Bit 2 - hex 04

Bit 3 - hex 08

Bit 4 - hex 10

Bit 5 - hex 20

Bit 6 - hex 40

Bit 7 - hex 80

So yes, bit 4 is the same of adding/removing 10 to the number in the byte field.

There are big differences between the controllers fitted to Pre FL cars, so don't just copy the coding blindly from one car to another. Also FL are again different as the have a single BCM instead of separate central electrics and convenience controllers.

Always use the long coding helper in VCDS.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[DanialA11]

Just asking as I seen on alot of other forums of the option bi xenons without shutters is not there then just add 10 to the original hex value

However after that o found out you can use lcode2

[Gobsheene]

Incidentally i forgot to remove these for MOT and it passed...

 

So that was nice.

[MrBlacky]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, and not sure if this is the right place to post, but just on the off chance...

 

Would anyone with experience of doing this be able to assist with coding on my Octavia 2 vrs cr in the Peak District area? I'm Manchester side, but willing to travel

 

Thanks for the install guide btw!

[firthster]

Really good guide thank you both for the how to,

ive bought some London hid and can anyone do the coding or not?????

[J.R.]

I fitted some a couple of weeks ago to my pre facelift Octavia 2, I never knew that any coding had to be done, I have VCDS so will do it but would like to understand what it is that I would be doing and why, that is to say what will happen if I dont because the lights are working fine and not throwing up error codes?

 

The kit did however have some additional can bus black boxes (silver actually) to make the controller think that halogen bulbs are still fitted, would it still need coding and why please?

[langers2k]

In short, the electronics that fool the car into thinking halogens are fitted have been known to damage cars.

 

This typically takes out the wiper motor in a MK5 Golf which is similar to your 2006 Octavia. It's common enough rosstech added a section to their wiki when the wiper electronics are damaged: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00153

[Skoda2114]

I am thinking about doing this on my Pre-FL 2005 Octavia, can anyone send me the link to the correct headlights as there are many listed on eBay. 
Also, can the 2 coding options be enabled/disabled before they are fitted or does it have to be after?

 

Thanks. 

[skomaz]

59 minutes ago, Skoda2114 said:

I am thinking about doing this on my Pre-FL 2005 Octavia, can anyone send me the link to the correct headlights as there are many listed on eBay. 
Also, can the 2 coding options be enabled/disabled before they are fitted or does it have to be after?

 

Thanks. 

 

If you want a set I've took a set out of our 2007 Octavia 4x4 a couple of months back.  They were working fine when I removed them so would be happy to pass them on for a few quid and postage as I won't be fitting them to the Kodiaq (think I even have some spare burners somewhere).

 

I think these were the ones:

 

XENON HID CONVERSION KIT H1 H3 H7 H8 H9 H11 HB3 9005 HB4 9006 | eBay

[sonic123]

On 27/12/2014 at 23:30, Gobsheene said:

Hey folks, there has been numerous threads on this but I wanted to put together a pictorial Guide on how to install these slim ballast non-canbus kits. 

 

This is on my FL 2010 Octavia.

 

Tools Needed:

• Flat head screwdriver
• Sharp Knife or scissors
• File/Emery Board

Method:

1. Remove the head lights from the car by undoing the white nylon nut, pulling the hook and removing the wiring connector from each using the flathead screwdriver.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0030061.jpg
    
2. Remove the large rubber back and pull out the lamp by turning it anti clockwise.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0040062.jpg
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0050063.jpg
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0060064.jpg
    
3. Remove the lamp from the holder, then remove the silver retaining clip from the holder too. You'll need this later to reattach the new lamp.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0140130.jpg
    
4. At this point we can look at all the components of the kit.
   HID Ballast (Silver Box) and Igniter (Black Box)
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0020060.jpg
   
   Lamp and Wiring Harness
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0080066.jpg
    
5. At his point keep all protective covering on the lamp. 
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0210137.jpg
    
6. Remove the Rubber Grommet from the Lamp wiring harness, this is not required as it will all fit within the headlight.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0180134.jpg
    
7. Use the file to take a mm or two off the larger connector from the lamp harness to allow it to fit through the retaining clip.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0170133.jpg
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0160132.jpg
   
   then slip the second smaller connector through.
   
   It will conntact snugly with the lamp like so:
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0200136.jpg
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0210137.jpg
    
8. After this remove the protection and carefully insert the lamp into the headlight. This will only lock into place in one direction as the 'teeth' on the retaining clip are at staggered junctions.
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0220138.jpg
    
9. Connect the clips to the igniter end of the loom. 
   http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0230139.jpg
    
10. Connect the clips on the 2nd part of the loom to the red ballast 
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0240140.jpg
     
11. As the ballasts are not going to be afixed to anything and essentially floating, i made them a little shock absorber from the lamp protectors. 
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0250141.jpg
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0260142.jpg
     
12. Finally connect the last two spade connectors into the original bulb connector. The polarity of this is reversed, so where black would normally be - in this case its +. 
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0340150.jpg
     
13. I wasnt overly happy with there being two slightly bare ends of the spade connectors, so I used some insulating tape to isolate them a little. 
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0300146.jpg
     
14. Carefully slip everything into the headlight and pop the cover back on.
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0320148.jpg
    http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w87/gobsheene/Octavia%20VRS/HID%20Install/G0310147.jpg
     
15. Reinsert the head light units back into the car and connect them back up

Now, some people are stating that you must code the car to remove any warning lights on the dash. My car does not have maxidot, the only warning that I receive is a bulb light. 

I did have a bulb warning before I fitted these as One of my bulbs blew on Christmas eve, when I installed the HIDs this cleared. and has not came back on since. 

 

Hope that this can help some people out  

 

Niall 

 

On 03/11/2018 at 22:37, langers2k said:

In short, the electronics that fool the car into thinking halogens are fitted have been known to damage cars.

 

This typically takes out the wiper motor in a MK5 Golf which is similar to your 2006 Octavia. It's common enough rosstech added a section to their wiki when the wiper electronics are damaged: http://wiki.ross-tech.com/wiki/index.php/00153

Hi guys excellent post, thank you. Using VCDS, I have managed to Tick - Xenons w/o shutters option on BYTE 14, Bit 4. However I can not find the option to turn off 'cold lamp diagnostics for dipped beam', please advice.